First, we have an appeal: Friends of Campus Cats urges students, especially undergraduates with their future spread out so uncertainly before them, not to adopt a cat or kitten. A cat can live for 16 years or more, and its devotion is for life. If you love cats, spay and then feed a feral, or fostercare for a shelter, or cat-sit for a friend—but don’t adopt an animal that may not be able to follow you into that bright but uncertain future or that you may not be willing or able to support or give daily attention. Wait, please. There will be plenty of time, later, to adopt a cat or kitten.

If you already own a cat, you can help reduce the number of feral cats on campus by being responsible a pet owner. Don’t take on a pet unless it is for life—period. Spay/neuter early (by 3 or 4 months), before that first litter. Keep your pet safely inside. If you are no longer able to keep your cat (and it better be for a good reason—“I’m moving” just isn’t adequate), find it a good home with someone you trust; never hand your pet over to irresponsible friends or strangers you haven’t checked out. And never, ever abandon.

Other ways you can help? Encourage your friends to be responsible pet owners. Volunteer for a shelter (city, county, or alternative) or for the monthly spay/neuter service for ferals (Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project; linked to our website).

And if you want to help Friends of Campus Cats directly, bless you. Give us a call and leave a message. We’ll get back to you.